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Hot or Not? 8 National Design Trends

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 22:41:26 GMT

and Whether or Not We’ll See Them in Birmingham in 2026

Every October, designers, builders, and furniture manufacturers descend on North Carolina for the 2025 High Point Market — basically Fashion Week, but for interior design. This fall’s event set the tone for what we’ll see in 2026: tradition with personality . The days of gray everything and midcentury minimalism are officially numbered.

But if you live in or around Birmingham , you know our design scene moves at its own pace. So which of these national trends will actually take root here, and when? Let’s take a look.

1. Refreshed Traditional Silhouettes

Think Chippendale and Windsor chairs, French tufted sofas, and the return of the china hutch — but reimagined for today.

Will it hit Birmingham? Absolutely, and fast. Our market has always leaned traditional, but clients are craving warmth and character again after years of stark white minimalism. Expect to see these shapes popping up first in Mountain Brook and Hoover remodels , where homeowners are layering in heritage pieces with transitional finishes.

2. Nostalgic and Heritage Florals

From cabbage roses to ginkgo leaves, florals are back — especially on wallpaper, rugs, and upholstery.

Birmingham timeline: Within a year. We’ve already seen floral wallpapers return in powder baths and primary suites. The next step will be soft furnishings — accent chairs, drapery, even lampshades. If you spot a Liberty of London print on a throw pillow in a Homewood boutique by next summer, don’t say I didn’t tell you first.

3. Dapper Plaid

Plaid in rich leathers and menswear fabrics is the new neutral, lending structure and coziness.

Local outlook: I just don’t see this hypermasculine look taking off in our area. Birmingham design leans soft, layered, and classic — and that “gentleman’s club” aesthetic clashes with the Southern belle tradition that runs deep here. What I do expect, though, is a wave of Ralph Lauren holiday energy this winter — think traditional green and red tartans, gold accents, and that cozy, heirloom Christmas style we do so well in the South. You’ll see the plaid, but not on the sofas — it’ll be on the ornaments, the ribbons, and the stockings.

4. Rich Autumnal Colors

Warm browns, olive greens, and ochres are replacing the whites and grays that dominated the last decade.

Local prediction: Already happening. If you’ve toured any new builds around Helena or Chelsea lately, you’ve seen the shift — deeper wood tones, brass hardware, and rich hues. Expect to see fir green and plum accents creeping into paint choices by next spring. (Need help picking a paint color? Make sure to check out my series on choosing the right color on TikTok! https://www.tiktok.com/@marenoconstruction

5. Upholstered Storage Pieces

Dressers and consoles wrapped in fabric, leather, or grasscloth blur the line between soft and structured.

Birmingham forecast: Nah. Nope. Uh-uh. This trend is just that - trendy. I think it will be here and gone, because the lack of functionality (just think of the dusting!) paired with the difficulty to match pieces and the tendency of the Birmingham buyer to mix in their grandma's antiques with newer pieces that need to be transitional enough to go together makes this trend a very hard sell. You may see it in mudroom benches and ottomans, but I don't see this trend have any lasting power for a market like us who likes things to last.

6. Decorative Trims and Stitching

Piping, fringe, visible stitching — all the “extras” are now the main event.

Local vibe: Make what's old new. Fringe on sofas? I doubt it. Black piping on a brown sofa? I don't think so. But the Japanese concept of Kintsugi, in which an item's repair can add to it's beauty like our scars make us beautiful (think using gold to repair a broken china piece, so now the cracks are artwork) may take hold. Perhaps it's just wishful thinking, but in this economy, we want to use what we have and not buy another piece of particleboard junk from Target that will only last for a year anyway. I forsee thrifting making a comeback, and when I saw a creative TikToker embroidering the rip in her sofa with flowers, I saw what I hope is Kintsugi becoming trendy and cool.

7. Sophisticated Curves

Houzz credited several Art Nouveau designers for bringing the arch to the forefront of design, but I'm going to give credit where credit is due. Justina Blakeny pioneered adding back arches into our builder box homes with painted whimsy arches on walls behind a piece of art and beautifully curved tops on rattan bookshelves. But I'm really seeing it make a comeback in the actual architecture of a home

What this means locally: We’ve been building with arches for years — from brick kitchen entries to barrel hallway ceilings and even bathroom mirrors — so this is an easy win. Expect to see arched cased openings, arched double entry front doors, and curved kitchen hoods making their way into new construction model homes by mid-2026.

8. Glossy Artisanal Wood

High-gloss finishes, inlaid patterns, and richly grained wood tones can give furniture a high-craft feel.

Local read: Birmingham loves craftsmanship — and woodworkers here are some of the best in the South. But glossy lacquer may stay more coastal. I can only see this working in a handful of colors like black and jewel tones, and it will have to be very carefully incorporated into the room. Anything else is going to look like you got it on clearance at Z Gallerie. So I don't see high gloss keeping its shine for the Birmingham interior designer!

Final Takeaway

While design capitals chase what’s next, Birmingham has a knack for filtering national trends through a Southern lens — practical, warm, and timeless. Expect these 2026 trends to arrive here 6 months to a year later than the rest of the country , adapted for real family living: more timeless fabrics, more functional pieces, and always a sense of home. Because in the South we like to host, and our homes aren't show pieces, they're made for watching football games and drinking wine over book club and Bible study brunches. Our spaces need to make other people feel like they can sit down and stay a while.

I'm already seeing clients pivot away from sterile minimalism and toward spaces that feel lived-in, layered, and personal. My interior design motto is, "do you like it? Then don't worry about everyone else!" I'm a firm believer that a neutral design that everyone will like is one that nobody will love. And I want you to love your home. At Mareno Construction, that’s exactly what we build—homes meant to be lived in, laughed in, and loved for generations.

Color Drenching: Is This New Trend Worth the Hype?

mrsmareno@gmail.com — Wed, 21 May 2025 14:43:39 GMT

Short answer: Absolutely.

What is Color Drenching?

If you’ve been down the Pinterest rabbit hole lately—or even just scrolled Instagram once this week—you’ve seen it: walls and trim and sometimes even the ceiling painted the same color. It’s moody. It’s modern. It’s color drenching , and it’s making everyone second-guess their baseboards.

But is it actually worth the hype?

TLDR? Absolutely.

Long answer: Let’s talk about why it works, and why half-committing to this look is the biggest design mistake most people make.

Some Brief Color History

Color drenching might feel like a bold new rebellion against the era of gray walls and white trim, but if you've seen Bridgerton or any Jane Austen movie ever, you know that it actually echoes the layered maximalism of historic English interiors. In old English manor homes, the trim was rarely white—it was deep oxblood, forest green, ochre, or even black. These homes embraced saturation. They had wallpaper and painted moldings and dark ceilings. It was never just one feature wall; it was a full experience. Color was a way to show richness, taste, and intention. When paint was expensive and pigments were precious, using a lot of it said something about who you were.

Fast forward to the early 20th century and the rise of American minimalism—or as I like to call it, the Joanna Gaines era - color took a back seat. Suddenly, white paint and trim became the default, and color was something you “added” in small, polite doses. It all felt very builders grade to me. Your home told me nothing about you. It was all Ikea catalog Scandinavian or "resale value" generic. It made sense in a housing boom, where people were moving frequently and needed a home to be generic for the next buyer.

But now? Color is making a comeback, not just on walls, but everywhere—doors, ceilings, crown moldings, baseboards, cabinets. Folks are buying to stay for a while. And design is circling back to depth, to mood, to personality. And let's be real here - buyers see that too. If you have an intentional designed space, they will love it. Or hate it. But they will absolutely remember it over the 17 white houses they've seen.

This is where color drenching shines. It creates an enveloping, intentional feel. The space looks cohesive, curated, and much more expensive than it probably was. It erases visual noise. You don't have to add a ton of curated furniture to make it work, the paint does the heavy lifting, so you can go full on maximalist or just let the paint speak. It makes a room feel taller, calmer, more dramatic—depending on your chosen shade. But here’s the kicker: if you only go halfway, you don’t get the magic.

Where did this trend come from? Will it last?

I'm going to give credit to the talented Justina Blakeney, who published a book called Jungalow in the middle of the minimalist heyday. She boldly went where nobody else was going, and infused spaces with much needed color and personality in a time when people were actively subtracting it from their spaces. I instantly fell in love, but I wasn't alone - Target picked up her line (you know it as Opalhouse) followed quickly by Ruggable. You can now get her wallpaper too!

Justina showed herself in her design, and inspired us to do so as well.

Most people fear committing to full color because they’re afraid they’ll hate it. So they do a feature wall. Or just paint the walls and leave the trim white. Or skip the ceiling. The result? It looks fine. Not bad. Not bold. Just...meh. That’s the real design mistake—playing it so safe you end up with a space you feel lukewarm about. And nobody spends $80/gallon on designer paint to feel lukewarm.

So will the trend last? Yes—and longer than you think. This isn’t about a specific color; it’s about confidence and cohesion. That’s always in style. Even better? Most people repaint every 7–10 years anyway. If you commit to a rich navy bedroom or a clay-toned living room now, you’ll probably be ready for a refresh by the time this trend naturally fades—if it ever truly does. (And if you have kids? Well, it's harder to see little scuffs and handprints on a colored wall than a white one, and I am a form + function girlie, so you know I love that functionality for parents!)

How to choose the right color

Choosing the right color for a color-drenched space isn’t just about what looks good on a paint chip—it’s about how that color behaves in your specific room, with your specific light, at different times of day. A rich navy might feel bold and cozy in a north-facing bedroom, but lean cold and stark in a bright, south-facing space. Warm clay tones, soft olives, smoky charcoals—each carries a mood, and the only way to know if it fits is to live with it for a bit.

That’s where swatching comes in. Skip the tiny paint chip and go big. Paint large swatches (think at least 18"x18") directly on the wall—or better yet, on foam boards you can move around the room. Check them in morning light, afternoon sun, lamplight, and shadows. Tape the swatch over your trim, your doors, even your ceiling if you’re going all in. This step isn’t extra—it’s essential. You’re not just picking a color; you’re picking an atmosphere. Let it prove itself before you commit.

Undertones are the sneaky little ingredients in every paint color that make or break a room—and most people don’t notice them until it’s too late. You might think you’re choosing a soft gray, but in your space, it suddenly looks lavender. Or that perfect beige? Turns peach at sunset. That’s the undertone talking. Every paint color has a dominant hue (what you think you see) and a subtle undertone that shows up depending on the lighting, surrounding colors, and even your flooring.

This matters especially when you're color drenching, because you're not just painting one wall—you’re committing to a whole vibe . A blue with a green undertone might feel spa-like and serene. A blue with a purple undertone could go regal and dramatic. Neither is wrong, but one might clash hard with your tile or sofa. When you swatch, don’t just look at the color—look at what it does near your wood tones, your fabrics, and your floors. If the undertone doesn’t play nicely, trust that instinct. The wrong undertone can make even the most beautifully painted room feel just slightly... off.

Should You Do It?

If you’re thinking about painting your trim the same color as your walls, stop thinking and start planning. Go all in. Don’t just dip a toe in the paint can— dive in . Color drenching isn’t about being trendy; it’s about being intentional. It’s about choosing to create a space that feels layered, thoughtful, and unmistakably yours.

And here’s the good news: you don’t have to figure it all out alone. Working with a custom home builder that offers start-to-finish service—including interior design—means you get expert guidance on everything from color selection to undertone compatibility to lighting impact. A good design team will help you swatch smart, avoid costly mistakes, and create a space that feels as beautiful on day one as it does five years from now. When you’re building or remodeling a home, every detail matters—and that includes the paint.

Because the real risk isn’t doing too much.

It’s doing too little … and walking into your finished space wishing you’d been brave enough to go all the way.

8 Reasons to Hire a Builder for Your Custom Home: Expertise, Efficiency, and Peace of Mind

Wed, 21 May 2025 12:33:50 GMT

Why Choosing a Professional Builder for Your Custom Home in Birmingham, AL Saves Time, Money, and Stress

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How to Budget for Your Custom Dream Home

mrsmareno@gmail.com — Wed, 21 May 2025 12:33:40 GMT

Building in the Greater Birmingham Area

Building your custom dream home is an exciting prospect, but it requires a well-thought-out budget to ensure everything goes smoothly. In the Greater Birmingham Alabama area, several factors come into play that you might not face in other regions, particularly due to the terrain. Let’s break down how to properly budget for your custom home and navigate the complexities of the local market.

The Budgeting Process

The first step in budgeting for a custom home is to have a clear understanding of your financial capacity. Meet with a lender to determine how much you can borrow and establish a comfortable price range for your build. Next, consult with a full service builder to outline your vision and discuss initial cost estimates. This will give you a preliminary budget, which can be fine-tuned as you move through the design phase.

It’s essential to build a contingency into your budget—typically 10-20% of the project’s total cost. Unexpected expenses like changes in material costs or on-site challenges can arise, especially in areas like Birmingham where rock and elevation shifts can make construction more unpredictable.

Factors That Influence Cost

One of the most common misconceptions in home building is relying too heavily on price per square foot as an indicator of cost. While it’s a quick benchmark, it rarely tells the full story. And much of the information regarding square foot pricing no longer applies due to the fluctuating post-COVID market.

The local terrain in Birmingham, Alabama plays a significant role in driving costs. Much of the greater Birmingham area sits on rocky soil, and excavation can be costly and time-consuming. The amount of rock beneath the surface means that costs for grading and foundation work may be higher than anticipated. And while "going up" is typically cheaper than "going out" (meaning that building a multi-level home is cheaper than getting everything on a single level,) building a basement foundation is more costly than a slab on grade. Unfortunately, the available lots in our area typically do not allow for a slab on grade home.

Other factors that influence cost include:

Material choices: Custom homes give you the freedom to choose premium materials, which can add up.
Design complexity: The more complex the architectural design, the higher the cost. Features like vaulted ceilings, custom finishes, and intricate layouts can increase the budget.
Labor costs: Skilled labor can vary in cost depending on demand. A good builder has built relationships vendors and subcontractors and receives better pricing than an off-the-street customer due to volume bought.
Permit and inspection fees: Each jurisdiction within the greater Birmingham area may have different building codes and fees.

Location and How It Affects Your Budget

The location of your lot plays a huge role in your budget. While the lot price itself is the most obvious factor, other considerations can greatly affect your overall budget.

In Birmingham, building in areas with steep elevation or significant rock can require extensive site preparation. For example, digging into rocky terrain for foundation work can require special equipment and increase labor costs. Additionally, homes built on sloped lots may need more complex foundation systems, such as retaining walls, to support the structure.

Proximity to utilities is another consideration. If your lot is in a more remote or developing area, extending power, water, or sewer lines can add substantial costs.

The Role of your Builder

Your custom home builder is your key partner in navigating the complexities of building a custom home. A good builder will guide you through each phase of construction, from securing permits to coordinating subcontractors and managing the budget. In Birmingham, where the terrain can complicate construction, an experienced builder will communicate challenges like difficult excavations or drainage concerns and plan accordingly.

An essential part of the budgeting process is obtaining a detailed bid from your builder, which should outline total expected costs, from labor and materials to site work and landscaping. Your GC will also help you stay on budget by recommending alternatives for materials or design choices that can save money without sacrificing quality.

Financing Options

Financing a custom home differs from a traditional mortgage. For most custom home builds, you’ll need to secure a construction loan, which is short-term financing that covers the cost of the build. Unlike a traditional mortgage, where the loan is based on the home’s purchase price, a construction loan is based on the projected cost of the home and the value of the land.

Here’s a general overview of how construction loans work:

Draw Schedule: Funds are disbursed in phases as construction progresses. For example, the first draw may cover site preparation and foundation work, while the next draw would cover framing.
Interest-only payments: During construction, you typically only pay interest on the money that’s been drawn from the loan.
Conversion to a traditional mortgage: Once the home is completed, the construction loan is often converted into a traditional mortgage (referred to as a "construction-to-permanent" loan), with the full principal and interest payments starting.

Keep in mind, construction loans usually have higher interest rates than standard mortgages due to the increased risk involved. You’ll also need to provide detailed plans, budgets, and contracts to the lender before approval. Experienced builders have worked with mortgage lenders on previous projects and can provide you with all of the paperwork your lender requires.

Final Thoughts

Budgeting for a custom dream home in the Greater Birmingham area comes with unique challenges. Partnering with an experienced custom home builder and planning for additional costs like excavation and foundation work is key to staying on track.

By understanding the full scope of your project and securing the right financing, you can build the custom home of your dreams without unexpected financial surprises. With careful planning and expert guidance, you’ll be on your way to turning that dream home into a reality!

Designing Spencer: Midcentury Modern in Blue

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 17:10:57 GMT

Spencer Preserve Lot 23

When I started designing Lot 23 at Spencer Preserve, I knew I wanted it to stand out. It's at the front of the neighborhood, and when people drive by I wanted them to notice it! To me, a standout design means that nobody has mediocre feelings about it. Love it or hate it, it makes you feel some kind of way.

The comeback of the midcentury modern aesthetic has absolutely stoked the fire of my imagination. I have never been a huge fan of the all white design. As a builder I see so many white walls between the sheetrock and the primer and the trim and the cabinets that it has always felt a bit unfinished to me. Don't get me wrong - I love a clean marble tile in a spa bathroom, but when customers choose color I get excited.

When I design a spec home I always try to add a little pop of something to make it unique. Something to make you remember "that house with the sage backsplash" or "that one with the black powder room!" I naturally gravitate to green and have used it in many shades in my designs, but I wanted to go blue with this one. But I knew I had to be careful to steer it away from that nautical beachy look many people associate with blue.

When I begin a design, I typically start with the kitchen. To me, a kitchen is where you will spend the most time as a family, so that space needs to shine! I chose a blue island for a big pop of color. It goes stunningly with chrome accents. I tend towards nice simple pulls. I kept the surrounding cabinets a nice white shaker to allow the eye to drift towards that hood.

Oh, that hood, apple of my eye, I love you so much! I knew I wanted a marble herringbone backsplash, and I decided to pull that pattern up to the hood. And it turned out even better than I imagined! Brian is frequently iffy about my design decisions until he sees them, so it's always fun when he sees something and says, "wow, that looks amazing!" He prefers beige and minimalist while I lean towards moody and maximalist, so wowing him is always fun, especially since this hood is so extra! Ha.

And since I don't have a "no that's too much" bone in my body, I kept on with the pattern and the blue right into the dining room. The cabinet company provided the Sherwin Williams color match for the island (seriously awesome that they do that) for the lower half, and we painted a nice bright white above to keep it feeling bright. With a stained wood chair rail and a funky pattern moulding treatment, there is nothing boring about this dining room!

Admire the color match with me!

For the bathrooms, I wanted to do some mixed metals. Bathrooms can feel cold and impersonal. Mixing metals can give a space a lived in, warm feel. It feels more custom and less track home, doesn't it? My rule of thumb is to go with one shiny and one matte. For this master I went with chrome Delta Woodhurst® plumbing fixtures. The classic, clean lines of these fixtures will withstand the test of time, both with quality and trends.

But I wanted the warmth of a wood cabinet with champagne gold pulls and towel hooks. Using the t-pulls vertically as knobs really gives it that midcentury flare. And I searched high and low for a light fixture that would pull it all together. This 3-light vanity from Hinkley was a great find!

In the entryway I added some shelving under the stairs. Because I just cannot stand wasted space! This could be used to create a really pretty vignette, or for someone's book collection. (Or in my case- part of an extremely excessive book collection!) And when you look up...

There's a gorgeous acrylic and chrome light fixture at the top of the foyer to welcome your guests, while providing plenty of lighting to get to the upstairs loft. Which is perfect for a second livingroom, playroom, or a teen hangout spot!

Not long after we listed this house, Benjamin Moore announced that the Color of the Year for 2024 was Blue Nova. And while I used Sherwin Williams paint, I was happily surprised to know that in the process of creating something modern but timeless, I managed to be trendy too!

So...what do you think of the Blue House?

Hambaugh: A Transformation

Tue, 30 Apr 2019 15:59:23 GMT

A #TransformationTuesday of Epic Proportions

If you've ever taken on a fixer-upper, you know why they make reality TV shows about it. It's difficult, detailed, and sometimes painful, but the end result is always worth it.

This house is the ultimate fixer. But in the Hollywood neighborhood of Homewood, a flip just wouldn't do. This 1920's gem deserved a full restoration. The first time I walked in it, I knew we had to buy it. Behind the peeling wallpaper and cigarette smoke-stained walls were beautiful original features, features that I knew another builder would remove because it would be easier.

I had dreams of an open flow from the front of the house through to the kitchen, and Brian saw antique fireplaces and original high ceilings, and we knew we could make something beautiful. The journey to get there would be long and arduous, but in the end we polished this diamond into a home befitting of a Homewood queen!

Let's start outside. While the dutch colonial swoop at the entry was adorable, this house was seriously lacking in curb appeal.

I really loved that swoop and wanted to keep it. So we extended the roofline over the office (on the left) and the carport to make them seem less like an afterthought, and of course replaced the entire roof. We pushed out the front entry to add a cute little covered porch, because we all know we need that shade here in scorching hot Alabama! Cedar columns, a decorative cedar bracket on the entry, and new aluminum clad windows finish the look, and we restored the original door trim with its gorgeous dental moulding. But that solid wood front door is brand new!

And let's talk lot size. It's hard to capture in a photo just how massive this lot is, double the size of all the lots around it! You could put a whole other house in that spot it's so large!

I know, it's just a carport. But the roof had to go, and that little green space behind it was a mosquito's dream. So we couldn't just redo it without adding some functionality.

Ah, much better. Not only did we pour a new concrete driveway to replace the old gravel drive, but we also added a walk-through deck and a door into the pantry to make getting groceries into the house a breeze.

This is the old side of the house. There are some very cool features here that just needed a major overhaul. That garage door was beyond repair, but do you see that little red iron box on the wall? That's the old coal chute. How cool is that? And that huge entertaining porch is wonderful, but the wood was dilapidated.

It's an entertainer's dream now! You can't see it at this angle, but of course we kept the coal chute because it's just too cool. We replaced the garage door (and exterior door) and rebuild and extended the porch, adding a screened in area with a ceiling fan to keep cool. The new siding, windows, landscaping, and paint don't hurt that curb appeal either!

And behind that garage door is a huge basement space that would make for excellent storage space, a great man-cave, or even a home business space. Not to mention the new HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems. All the modern convenience and low maintenance of a new home with all of the historical charm!

One of the biggest changes to this house was opening up the floorplan. While the ceilings were high and the fireplace was in just the right spot, we knew we could do better.

Now THAT is a before and after! When we carefully removed the mantle on the fireplace, thinking we could paint it and reinstall it, we found original Bessemer Gray Brick behind that facade, and just couldn't bare to cover it back up! Oddly, the chimney ran on the left side instead of the middle, so we shiplapped the mantle and added a bookshelf on the side to keep the symmetry, but add functionality. This is the perfect spot to mount your TV, with all the storage space for boxes and DVD players tucked away on the side. (And a very handy place for our permit during the build!) You can also see from the side that we added a mudroom bench by the front door for quick and easy storage. We also added a coat closet for items you want to tuck away.

And of course Brian could not resist adding the reclaimed circle saw pine beams to show off that high ceiling. The really add to the 1920's ambiance!

Take a peek behind door number one and you'll find a new powder bath that wasn't there before. Having your guests use the master bathroom is never very convenient!

Don't even get me started on those floors. Tying in new flooring where you remove walls with the original hardwood is always a challenge, but it was a TV-episode worthy nightmare in this house. They were severely out of level and we spent weeks leveling them out. The end result, while not perfect, is olympic medal worthy. Seriously, do they have flooring olympic medals? Our guys deserve one!

This is the original office. It's...pink.

The new office has windows on all sides. The lighting in this room is just gorgeous. It would make an amazing studio, game room, library, playroom, or even a formal sitting room! There is so much potential here.

The kitchen in this house had been redone, as we find in most houses of this age. The staircase was hidden behind a door, and the wood-look laminate and blue cabinets just didn't say rustic elegance. So we redid the whole thing.

Now THAT is a swoon-inducing kitchen. A mix of modern, professional appliances, a white farmhouse sink, tons of cabinets with all the fun features, Mont Blanc marble countertops, a custom chevron reclaimed circle saw pine vent hood, not to mention that Delta champagne gold faucet, and this kitchen is classic enough to be stylish for the next 50 years, but functional enough for any home chef. All of the light fixtures in the entire house have been updated, and that industrial island pendant is one if my favorites! And could we resist installing a custom barn door into the pantry? No, no we could not.

Speaking of the pantry... take a look at all of that custom shelving! Plenty of room for all of your food, zombie apocalypse supplies, washer and dryer, and a folding counter. With easy access to the front carport or the backyard, with it's own grilling porch for convenient access to the kitchen, you can also use this as a mud room!

This is the old master bedroom. Hey, don't hate, it's on the main floor!

Now we're talking! Plenty of luxury here. With a walkout onto the screened in porch, a soothing spa bathroom with gorgeous chrome Delta Cassidy fixtures and double sinks, and a huge closet, convenience is not the only thing to enjoy about this master suite!

The upstairs layout of this house was very strange and had probably been modified quite a bit. We needed to bring it back to something that both flowed and functioned better. And of course we added a bathroom, because 3 bedrooms with only one shared bath? Every mom out there reading this is saying "NOPE" simultaneously.

We brought the ceilings up for more headroom, and replaced the AC unit to the whole house to a large enough unit to render those window units unnecessary. (And ugly.) Throughout the house you'll notice that we went with a reverse paint scheme, white walls with a fawn colored trim. This gives the house a more classical feel and is more accurate to the era of the house. With our signature Chelsea Gray 5-panel doors, we paired Schlage Birmingham door handles, in keeping with the 1920's look. They are absolutely gorgeous! No detail was overlooked here.

Here's a fun photo of the old upstairs bathroom, a photo that should go into a book called "Renovations gone Wrong."

And here is the after. This is actually my favorite room in the entire house. With jack and jill sinks and lots of cabinet space, it's very functional. But that antique clawfoot tub-shower combo and those hand-painted concrete tiles really make this room feel like a restoration. Sometimes, you have to put the character back into a house where it's been removed, and this bathroom does just that.

While there's no before picture for this room, the addition of this bathroom creates an upstairs mother-in-law suite, or just a private space for a teenager who doesn't want to share!

Every detail of this house was painstakingly selected or restored. It had tons of charm just waiting to be polished. The amount of work that went into restoring this house is more than we've ever taken on in a flip, but it was completely worth it. This is my favorite house that we've built so far, and we can't wait to take on the next challenge!

If you want more info on this Homewood gem, you can check out the MLS listing here: https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/611-Hambaugh-Ter_Homewood_AL_35209_M84101-80292 or contact Massey Properties.

Roof Maintenance

Wed, 09 Jan 2019 20:19:45 GMT

What you can do to prevent costly damage

It's storm season! Well, it's almost always storm season in Alabama. And with storms comes storm damage, usually to your roof. Your new roof came with a one year installation warranty, and your homeowner's insurance will cover major damage. But your deductible may make that claim hard to swallow. Fortunately there are some things you can do to avoid costly leaks and repairs.

Inspect your roof every spring and fall. Look for missing shingles, rust, moss, and cracked caulking. A couple of shingles are easy to replace, but a roof leak caused by them can cause major damage to the interior of your home. While it is best to inspect your roof and attic before a storm, you should also check after a big storm so that you can make any necessary repairs now, instead of finding the damage when your roof leaks during the next storm! Leaf guards may decrease the amount of time between gutter cleanings, but leaves and debris can still build up on top of and inside your gutters. You should still regularly check to make sure there is no blockage in your gutters.

And the #1 most important thing you can do to maintain your roof is... CLEAN YOUR GUTTERS! Gutters are one of the biggest deterrent of roof leaks. They keep water flowing away from your house and not into it, protecting your roof, walls, foundation, and landscaping. Blocked gutters can cause water to build up where it doesn't belong, which can lead to foundation cracks, rotting wood, roof and basement leaks, and even insect problems. Critter love stagnant water. Issues resulting from poor home maintenance may not be covered under your insurance.

Please make sure to be careful if you're cleaning your gutters yourself! Make sure your ladder is sturdy and in good condition. Make sure you place the ladder on firm flat ground, and that the foot pads are firmly set. The upper section of your extension ladder should be on top. Always maintain three points of contact with your ladder. And stay far away from power lines! OSHA is a great source for proper ladder usage, you can find more information at https://www.osha.gov/Publications/portable_ladder_qc.html .

Make a Statement with Doors

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 20:19:45 GMT

Choosing a door style that fits your home

When you think of an interior door, what do you picture? It's probably white, and it likely has 6 panels. But the style of doors you choose in your home doesn't have to be either. You have carefully curated your interior design choices to fit your style, and your doors shouldn't be any different!

If you are remodeling a historic home, start be researching the doors of the time period the house was built. A 5-panel door could be the right choice for a 1920's style home, but a Corvado may be a better choice for a mid-century modern style.

Building a new home? Roman and Cheyenne doors are great choices for that farmhouse look, but you may want the clean lines of a Carrara for a more modern feel.

Don't forget color. You could go with stained doors or painted, but don't limit yourself to white. Using a tone-on-tone color scheme with lighter walls and a darker trim and doors is a great look! You could paint your doors a deep gray to give them some pop.

What if a standard swing door doesn't work for your space? Pocket doors are coming back, and they are big space savers! Or maybe you want to make a big impact with a barn door. Painted or stained, they make a beautiful addition to a room.

Lastly, don't forget hardware. While nickel is most popular, dark bronze knobs fit just as easily into most styles. And they don't have to match your cabinet hardware...but that's a post for a different day!